Junior Summer School

Week 1

Emma Manes
Ballet and Group Dance Faculty

Emma trained at Tring Park, and then The Royal Ballet School on the Teachers Training Course.

She went on to tour Europe and Asia playing the lead role of the ‘Queen’ in Matthew Bourne’s ‘Swan Lake’.

She danced in numerous productions at The Royal Opera House, with the Royal Opera Company and at the Coliseum with English National Opera (credits include: La Traviata, Samson and Delilah, Onegin and Cyrano de Bergerac).

Emma toured the UK with Vienna Festival Ballet Company and spent a year in Portugal performing in a show dedicated to the fado singer ‘Amalia’.

Emma was Head of Dance for Phoenix Theatre Arts Project which she co-founded and managed.

Emma has over 20 years of teaching experience having taught for The Royal Ballet, National Youth Ballet, Hofesh Shechter, the Royal Academy of Dance, and is a RAD Mentor on the RAD CBTS programme for trainee teachers. She has also been teaching in the local area for 12 years entering students for their RAD exams.

She has performed in feature films, and worked on television and performed in adverts and promotions for the BBC, ITV and Sky. She has a BTEC in Sports and Remedial Massage therapy from the London School of Sports Massage.

Emma currently teaches ballet at Bede’s Prep School and Senior School, and runs The Bede’s Legat Associate Programme on Saturdays.

Joel Morris
Ballet and Group Dance Faculty

Joel Morris was born on the Isle of Wight where he received his early training with Gillian Cartwright. Later training includes The Royal Ballet school, The Central School of Ballet and The Royal Danish Ballet (Summer intensive on full scholarship). He has had a performing career of 19 years and in this time he had performed with London City Ballet, ENB, Atlanta Ballet, The South African Ballet Theatre, and Cape Town City Ballet. He was also a company member of KBallet in Japan for its first seasons.

Joel danced in CATS in the West End (London Palladium) and on Tour where he was lucky enough to perform the iconic role of Mr Mistofelees and attending rehearsals with Andrew Lloyd Webber and Dame Gillian Lynne.

Classical principal roles include, Franz (Coppélia) Blue Bird and Carabosse (The Sleeping Beauty) Don Jose (Carmen) The Nutcracker Prince, Gamache (Don Quixote) and Jesters in Swan Lake and Cinderella. He has also performed Balanchine Who Cares? and Ashton’s Les Patineurs.

Joel teaches at The Royal Ballet School, The RAD Dance School, Pineapple Dance Studios, Bodywork Cambridge, and The Ballet School Notting Hill to name a few and teaches all over the world at different summer programs and seminars.

Professional companies Joel has taught include the West End cast of An American in Paris Vienna festival ballet, The South African Ballet Theatre, and New York’s Les Ballets Grandiva.

Kevin Young
Creative Dance Faculty

Kevin has toured the world performing for artist such as Cheryl Cole, Florence & the machine, Sophie Ellis Bextor and on TV shows such as X factor, Britain’s Got Talent, Dancing on Ice, So You Think You Can Dance to name a few. His passion for choreography and teaching has enabled him to work in places such as Australia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong and all over Europe. Kevin does a lot of teaching through the Royal Academy Of Dance and is also the founder and principle of his own dance school in London, Young Performers Academy where he teaches and passes on his knowledge to future dance professionals.

Sonny Ward
Musical Theatre Faculty

Sonny Ward is a dedicated dance educator and choreographer with over 15 years of experience
training the next generation of performers. Specialising in jazz dance technique and musical
theatre, he is particularly known for his expertise in Matt Mattox-based Isolation technique—a
discipline he studied intensively for three years during his own professional training.

Sonny currently teaches across several prestigious institutions including Emil Dale Academy and Arts Ed School of Musical Theatre, where he helps students build the technical foundation and performance skills essential for a professional career. His long-standing teaching roles also include over 15 years at the Sylvia Young Theatre School and more than a decade at the Royal Academy of Dance, where he has contributed to both the RAD Dance School and international outreach programmes.
For eight years, Sonny served as Senior Company Leader of the RAD Jazz Company for Step Into Dance, where he led weekly company training and choreographed original work for performances staged across major London theatres. His previous teaching engagements span prestigious institutions such as The Royal Ballet School, The Place, London Vocational Ballet School (formerly Young Dancers Academy), and Hurtwood House. His international teaching credentials include classes and workshops in Singapore, Dubai, Luxembourg, and beyond.

Alongside his teaching, Sonny has built an extensive choreographic portfolio for both screen and stage. His commercial credits include dynamic campaigns for major leading brands such as Sainsbury’s, Littlewoods, Weetabix, and Asda, as well as large-scale flashmob for public events for Walkers Crisps and BBC’s The Rob Brydon Show. He has collaborated with leading production companies including Merman, Freud Communications, Moxie Pictures, Weilands, and AMV BBDO.
On stage, Sonny’s work has been showcased at high-profile events like Move It (Main Stage),
West End Live (Trafalgar Square), The Lord Mayor’s Show, and Evening Standard’s Get Reading. His choreography has lit up renowned venues including Sadler’s Wells, Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Lyric Theatre, and The Landmark Hotel. He also choreographed for the West Ham FC cheerleaders at Upton Park Stadium.

With a passion for inspiring and developing the next generation of performers, Sonny is known
for setting high expectations while delivering high-energy, technically precise, and carefully
structured training that emphasizes individual growth. His classes are both challenging and
engaging, pushing students to develop artistically and technically within a supportive, studentcantered environment. This adaptive approach has helped countless dancers thrive and has launched many into successful and varied careers in the performing arts industry, including the
West End, UK, and international tours.

Karen Cadogan
Yoga Faculty

Karen trained at the London College of Dance graduating with a 1st class teaching diploma. She toured with the Jiving Lindy Hoppers, in London, on TV, UK & internationally. Karen danced with BOP jazz theatre company, performed in several West End productions of The King & I and was the assistant choreographer to Susan Kikuchi at The Royal Albert Hall, amongst other engagements.

She has taught in traditional dance schools & vocational colleges, on summer schools & choreography commissions. As Head of Dance in an Independent School for over 20 years, Karen devised and directed dance productions alongside teaching RAD Ballet, ISTD Modern, Jazz, and GCSE Dance, students successfully auditioned for vocational colleges.

Karen’s passion for movement, expression, and wellness found a natural expansion into the practice of yoga. Having experienced the sense of peace and the positive effects, she completed her 200hr yoga teacher training in Vinyasa Flow, at Ashiyana, Goa 2016.

Week 2

Rebecca Peters
Ballet and Group Dance Faculty

Born in Preston, Lancashire, Rebecca began dancing at the early age of three at The Carol May academy of dance, following the RAD ballet syllabus and the ISTD tap and modern syllabus. Rebecca gained distinction at all levels of RAD and achieved the ARAD (associate of The Royal Academy of dance) in 2006.

Rebecca danced as an associate of The Royal Ballet School, and then went on to gain a place at White Lodge, The Royal Ballet lower School. Whilst at The Royal Ballet School, Rebecca danced with The Royal Ballet company in The Nutcracker for three seasons. She also danced at the opening ceremony of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in front of her majesty the Queen. Another highlight of her time at White Lodge was dancing in the opening of Mick Jagger’s performing arts school, and being in a BBC documentary with Jennifer Saunders.

Rebecca continued her training at Elmhurst School in association with The Birmingham Royal Ballet. Here she gained her Trinity Diploma in professional dance., and worked with world renowned choreographers such as Michael Corder and Irek Mukhamedov. Whilst at Elmhurst Rebecca began dancing and went on tour with The Birmingham Royal ballet and danced numerous roles whilst doing so. Rebecca then danced with The Birmingham Royal Ballet as an apprentice in productions such as The nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, Firebird and The Sleeping Beauty.

Rebecca successfully auditioned for The Estonian Vanemuine Ballet company. Rebecca danced as a professional ballet dancer here for three years; dancing many roles in numerous classical and neo-classical ballets. Rebecca danced with Cork City Ballet and London Ballet Ensemble.

Rebecca went onto complete the Professional Dancers Teaching Diploma with the Royal Academy of Dance, gaining a Distinction and her RAD registered teacher status. 

Rebecca is currently a member of the ballet faculty at the Royal Academy of Dance’s Dance School, at the headquarters in Battersea. Here she teaches students as young as three years old up to Advanced 2 vocational graded classes. Rebecca also teaches for The Royal Academy of Dance on their national and international workshops and summer programmes.

Most recently Rebecca has helped to establish the junior’s syllabus for English National Ballet School and is their current juniors tutor. Whilst teaching for the English National Ballet school Rebecca has produced and directed their junior’s productions each year and choreographed a piece for the Building futures gala. Rebecca will be joining the school on their move to London City Island, to set up the Juniors programme for the school.

Rebecca loves sharing her passion for dance and passing on her performance and technical knowledge with the children she teaches.

Mark Allison
Ballet and Group Dance Faculty

Mark is a Classical Ballet lecturer and educational practitioner working across both the Further and Higher Education sectors. As an Examiner for the ISTD’s Imperial Classical Ballet Faculty, Mark also holds his Licentiate in Cecchetti Ballet, a BA(Hons) in Dance, PgCert in Teaching and Learning, is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and currently teaches at The School of Ballet Theatre UK.

Mark has also taught at Performers College Essex, The Wilkes Academy, Bird College, DanceEast on the CAT program, The Royal Ballet’s CTD and is a regular guest teacher for the Royal Academy of Dance at their headquarters in London. 

Mark has also been fortunate to teach at both the Cecchetti Vocational and Imperial Classical Ballet awards at Elmhurst Ballet School. 

Mark is an approved tutor for the ISTD and coaches teachers toward attaining their level 4 Diploma in Dance Education, Licentiate and Fellowship Qualifications. 

Belinda Roy
Creative Dance Faculty

Originally from Canterbury, Belinda graduated with a first-class BA (Hons) in Ballet Education from the Royal Academy of Dance in 2019. She also gained a Distinction in becoming a Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Dance and received the Iris Truscott Scholarship in her final year. Belinda then went on to complete an MA in Dance Performance at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, whilst being a member of Transitions Dance Company. It was from this experience that she decided to combine both her teaching and performing career paths.

Belinda teaches ballet, contemporary and creative dance to a wide range of participants in private dance schools and community settings in and around London for organisations such as Rambert and the RAD. She is passionate about helping participants explore their creative potential whilst simultaneously improving their technical ability and confidence.

Belinda is also a freelance contemporary dancer and has performed internationally in stadium events, for television and in theatres including the Royal Opera House.

Belinda’s experience of teaching and performing culminates in fun, challenging and rewarding dance lessons, where the students will feel supported in a safe and positive environment.

Yaw Darko-Anaafi
Street Dance Faculty

Yaw has been passionately dancing and teaching since the age of 19. His competitive journey includes notable achievements such as competing in the UK Hip Hop Championships and various UDO competitions. In 2006, he secured 1st place at the Southern UDO Championships and went on to place 2nd at the World Championships.

Yaw’s performance career includes high-profile shows such as Move It, Dancers Delight, Breakin’ Convention, World of Dance, and Breakout. He has not only performed but has also played a pivotal role in choreographing many of these performances, often serving as the main choreographer.

Most recently, he choreographed and performed his Locking piece at the 2021 Dancers Delight. His group, Funk of the Future, also performed on the main stage at Move It Show for a number of consecutive years. In addition to his performance and choreography roles, Yaw has taught across numerous countries, including Spain, Italy, Greece, Germany, Denmark, Scotland, and Wales.

A seasoned judge, Yaw has extensive experience in evaluating dancers in competitions across the UK. His expertise in the field has earned him recognition, with nominations for Male Choreographer of the Year at the UK Dance Awards in both 2019 and 2023. The only locking teacher to be nominated for such an award.

Currently, Yaw teaches Locking at Ashley Banjo’s Diversity Studios and is the founder and leader of the Funk of the Future Training Academy in London. This academy is dedicated to teaching the technique and history of street dance, helping dancers understand the cultural significance behind the movement. Yaw also serves as the official host of British Dance Organisation street competitions throughout the UK. He is also a dance practitioner for Royal Academy of Dance. 

Tanya Greig
Yoga Faculty

Tanya is a teacher of yoga, dance, somatic practices, and creative movement and expression, continuously seeking what she calls the “fabulousflow.”

Once upon a time, she worked as a swimming and lifesaving instructor, as well as an aerobics and fitness circuit trainer. She later trained and toured as a professional dancer, eventually discovering a deep, soul‑felt connection to yoga. Tanya has been teaching, developing, performing, touring, collaborating, creating, and leading for over 15 years, and practicing for more than 20.

In her classes, Tanya encourages students to “work with what you’ve got,” guiding them to feel their way into safe movement and postures. Her approach helps students find expansion, space, and a greater sense of physical freedom, as well as peace in both heart and mind. Her classes offer challenge and rest in equal measure—moments to recover, laugh, and smile. Above all, she aims to help students feel great about themselves and discover their own “fabulousflow.”

With an incredible experiential understanding of biomechanics, Tanya uses her skills as a movement reader to bring out the best in her students. She offers imagery that resonates, corrections that land, and the confidence to fall or fly.

Yoga accreditations include:

• 300‑hour Advanced Yoga Teacher Training with Rasa Yoga School
• Injuries & Modifications Training with Fierce Grace
• 200‑hour Vinyasa Flow Yoga Teacher Training with Claire Missingham
• Pregnancy Yoga Training with Sivananda Yoga London
• Teen Yoga & Mindfulness Training with Charlotta Martinus, TeenYoga UK

Her continuing professional development includes training and countless workshops with professional dance companies and international yoga teachers; Postural Alignment Professional Development; and healing and holistic movement therapies such as Shiatsu, Feldenkrais, Franklin Method, Releasing Techniques, and Pilates.

Tanya’s own practice—and the teachings she continues to receive—deeply and continuously inspire and inform her work.

All students will take classes in:

• non-syllabus ballet
• classical group dance
• creative dance
• yoga
• and one other dance style that varies each week, the variable dance style will be one of the following: hip-hop, musical theatre or street dance.

All classes are compulsory and each dance class is 1 hour duration.

Please see an example timetable of what a day at the Junior Summer School may look like.

Junior Summer School students must be between the age of 8-17 years when they commence the course.

Students must be studying ballet, Grade 2 up to Intermediate Foundation, or the equivalent, and therefore be familiar with the ballet terminology and phrases at Grade 2 as a minimum. There is no audition, selection, or elimination process. Students will be grouped by the Artistic Team according to their age and the information provided on their application relating to their Grade in ballet and other dance experience. Please ensure your application is accurate.

Please review our syllabus vocabulary with your child’s ballet teacher if you are unsure what level they are currently studying. Students can be studying the RAD ballet syllabus or another ballet syllabus, and are not required to have RAD Membership to be eligible to attend the London Summer School.

If you’re studying Intermediate or above, see our Senior Summer School. If you are looking for a course for beginners age 4 – 9, see our Children’s Summer Camp.

Dates

Week 1: Monday 27 July – Saturday 1 August 2026 (SOLD OUT) Join the waiting list here

Week 2: Monday 3 August – Saturday 8 August 2026

Booking deadline: Monday 1 June 2026

Times

Monday-Friday: 10.15am – 5pm
Saturday: Hours vary, students will finish no later than 4.15pm.

Students will have a short morning and afternoon break with a longer lunch break in the middle of the day.

The theatre trip day will be an earlier start, and on the Saturday tuition hours vary for the parent open day.

A full timetable will be included in the final Information Pack sent to all attendees following the closing date.

The Early Bird Club runs each morning (Monday – Friday) from 8.30am.

For an additional fee of up to £15.00 per day, students will be cared for by our dedicated and friendly team of chaperones and offered a choice of indoor activities. The aim is to provide an affordable, safe and stimulating environment before dance classes begin and to give parents added flexibility. Fresh fruit and milk will be provided, students are welcome to bring their own breakfast cereal, or purchase something from the onsite cafe.

Students must bring a packed lunch each day as this will not be provided. Snacks and drinks will be available for students during the breaks. All dietary requirements should be submitted at the time of application.

The Summer School will be held at our purpose-built studios in London.

Royal Academy of Dance
188 York Road
London
SW11 3JZ

See helpful information on how to find us here.

One tuition award will be presented to a student (at any level) who has shown significant improvement at the RAD Junior Summer School. The award is one week’s tuition at an RAD Summer School in 2027 or 2028.

As part of the Junior Summer School students will attend a matinée West End performance one afternoon. Please note, coaches will be provided to escort all students to the theatre and parents will collect students from the theatre after the show. See details of the show each week below.

Week 1 – Oliver!

Thursday 30 July 2026, 2.30pm

Gielgud Theatre, 35-37 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 6AR

Bringing Charles Dickens’ beloved novel to life, Lionel Bart’s Oliver! takes audiences on a wild adventure through Victorian England. Join young, orphaned Oliver Twist as he navigates London’s underworld of theft and violence, searching for a home, a family, and – most importantly – for love. When Oliver is picked up on the street by a boy named the Artful Dodger, he is welcomed into a gang of child pickpockets led by the conniving, but charismatic, Fagin. When Oliver is falsely accused of a theft he didn’t commit, he is rescued by a kind and wealthy gentleman, to the dismay of Fagin’s violent sidekick, Bill Sikes. Caught in the middle is the warm-hearted Nancy, who is trapped under Bill’s thumb, but desperate to help Oliver, with tragic results.

Week 2 – Disney’s The Lion King

Wednesday 5 August 2026, 2.30pm

Lyceum Theatre, 21 Wellington Street, London, WC2E 7RQ

Disney’s award-winning musical The Lion King explodes with glorious colours, stunning effects and enchanting music. It follows the powerful story of Simba as he journeys from wide-eyed cub to his destined role as King of the Pridelands.

Now in its 27th year at London’s Lyceum Theatre, visionary director Julie Taymor’s acclaimed reimagining of Disney’s beloved film will redefine your expectation of theatre.

Please see the travel guide to get to our studios.